New York City FC have rejected a club-record offer for reported West Ham target Valentin Castellanos from Argentina giants River Plate.
According to ESPN, the reigning MLS Cup champions have turned down a $10m (£7.4m) offer from the South American titans for their star attacker, a bid that almost double what NYCFC sold Jack Harrison to Manchester City for in 2018.
Castellanos won the MLS Golden Boot award last season as NYCFC won their first piece of silverware in their existence, and the 23-year-old ace has caught the eye from abroad, namely from West Ham.
According to the Manchester Evening News, David Moyes’ side are fans of the attacker, with Pep Guardiola lauding Castellanos as a ‘quality’ player who has the potential to play in Europe in the future.
After a historic season with New York, it’s no wonder why Castellanos could be set for a move across the Atlantic. However, River Plate have caught the striker’s eye, with Tyc Sports claiming that the forward is keen on working with manager Marcelo Gallardo.
Indeed, West Ham were looking to sign a striker in January, and with River Plate now making serious moves to sign Castellanos, the Irons could now miss out on a unique talent who could be well-suited to the east London club.
West Ham have let Castellanos slip through their fingers to River Plate
An unorthodox attacker who is strong on the ball and in the air despite his stature, Castellanos was a sensation in MLS last year for New York, and River Plate’s strong interest in the forward is a major blow for West Ham.
The 23-year-old could have been the perfect back-up to Michail Antonio as well as a long-term replacement for the Jamaican international. Yet with River Plate likely to launch a second bid for Castellanos, West Ham could be letting the striker slip through their fingers.
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